Insider Insights: Grizzlies Lose Their Fourth Straight, Remain Winless at Home

The losses continue to pile up for the Grizzlies, as they fall to 3-13 on the season after losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Former Grizzlies legend, Mike Conley, kick-started the scoring for the game with a three followed by a Karl-Anthony Towns layup, which led to a quick timeout by Taylor Jenkins less than a minute into the game. Immediately following the timeout, the team responded with a drive and kick pass for three from Santi Aldama to Desmond Bane, but the Timberwolves blitzed the Grizzlies with an 8-0 run to lead 15-3 less than three minutes into the game.

Then, David Roddy entered the game and provided a spark, scoring six points with a three and an and-one finish; he helped propel the Grizzlies to a 12-2 run, bringing them within a two-point deficit at 17-15 midway through the first quarter. Minnesota wouldn’t stretch their lead past seven points the rest of the quarter but led the Grizzlies 31-26 at the end of the first.

The second quarter began similarly to how the beginning of the game started, with Minnesota opening the quarter on a 21-6 run to secure a 52-32 advantage with four minutes remaining in the half. The rest of the quarter was a foul fest as both teams combined to attempt 16 free throws. The Timberwolves led 60-43 at the half.

Coming out of the half, the Grizzlies were lackluster yet again; the Timberwolves launched a 10-1 run to take their largest lead of the game at 70-44. The Grizzlies cut their deficit down to 18 points on two occasions at 78-60 and 80-62, but the Timberwolves responded with a 10-4 run to end the third quarter leading 90-66.

The Grizzlies wouldn’t get closer than 12 points the rest of the game as the Timberwolves pounded them on their way to a 119-97 win. Memphis certainly played like a second-to-last-place Western Conference team against the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. Marcus Smart summed it up best in the huddle late in the game.

Now on to my main takeaway:

The Battle of Star 2020 NBA Draft Guards

Coming off his worst performance this season against another NBA All-Star guard in Devin Booker, the road didn’t get easier for Desmond Bane as the #1 pick from his draft class, Anthony Edwards, came to town with the Western Conference-leading Minnesota Timberwolves.

Bane wouldn’t use his foot injury as an excuse for his performance against the Phoenix Suns Friday, and he was left off the injury report for this matchup, so a bounce-back performance was expected against a team he averaged 22 points, five assists, and five rebounds against last season.

Bane began the game getting up good looks to try to snap out of his mini-slump but started the game 2-5 from the field, including 1-4 from three. Meanwhile, Anthony Edwards, who was questionable due to an Upper Back Spasm, began the game more efficiently, with both his scoring and playmaking, as he scored eight points on 4-6 shooting and produced four assists in the first quarter. Both players were relatively quiet in the second quarter as Edwards added four free throws to his 12-point total, and Bane shot 1-4 with a made two-point jumper to finish with seven points at the half.

Unfortunately, the second half continued to provide much of the same; Bane struggled to find his shot and failed to be the caliber of playmaker he was on Friday when his shot wasn’t falling. Anthony Edwards scored eight points in the third quarter, and Bane only scored three, as the emerging superstar in Edwards continued to score more efficiently.

Ultimately, Edwards won the matchup as he finished with 24 points on 8-14 shooting (1-4 from three), six assists, five rebounds, and only two turnovers. Bane finished with 13 points on 5-16 shooting (3-9 from three), four assists, two rebounds, and five turnovers. It is hard to fault Bane for his struggles because he is trying to carry a very depleted team, but as the current star player of this team, it is apparent that he has to be better in these types of matchups for the Grizzlies to have any chance.

Start/Stop/Continue

START playing the best offensive players and playmakers together more often. We finally got some more Derrick Rose and Desmond Bane minutes in this game that seems to have been missing for a while since Rose returned from injury. Taylor Jenkins mentioned after the game that they want to keep that combination with Rose’s pace of play. Needless to say, the Grizzlies haven’t scored 100 points in their last three games, so something has to give, especially since the defense isn’t exactly playing great, either. It is time to explore the prospect of a Derrick Rose, Desmond Bane, Santi Aldama, and Jaren Jackson Jr. lineup throughout the games with whoever Jenkins decides as the fifth player, to get a scoring punch.

Coming Up

The Memphis Grizzlies will finish their three-game homestand on Wednesday night against the Utah Jazz for their third matchup of the season. That game will provide the Grizzlies with an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone and that is to win their first home game of the season (0-8) and first win against the Utah Jazz this season (0-2).

Final Quote

“We’re trusting each other and building each other up, and we’re going to be better through this process” – David Roddy.